Golf tee



Nov. 8,1955 K. SPLUVAK 2,723,126

GOLF TEE Filed Jan. 25, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

AAL M4 N 5P1. (/l AK BY ATT'O RUE'YS.

Unitedsetes Pe s '0 This invention relates as indicated to novel golf tee, and more particularly to attee adapted to' be inserted in ice 2 the Fig 1 embodiment, the opposed inner surface 7 of such head is concave so that the two concave surfaces are opposed; to each other. The proper amount of liquid, ordinarily water W, may be placed in cavity 4- priorto scaling head 5 in place, but I will ordinarily prefer to inject the liquid as at 8 by means of a hypodermic needle and then to heat-seal the orifice formed thereby. The amount of liquid thus provided or injected will be insuffi cient'entirely to fill cavity 4 and will leave a small airbubbie which will center itself naturally beneath concave surface 7 of head 5 when the tee is held in perfectly vertical position with point 2 downwardly disposed for the ground onv a true vertical line" so thata golf ball sup ported thereby will always be properly positioned:

The game of golf issteadilybecoming increasingly popular, and the'operation of golf links and the instruction of beginners in the game have" become-large and profitable businesses. Inorder that the golfer may obtain consistent results when employing-the proper stance, swing, and posture prescribed, it is essential-that therbjall should always be teed in 'a uniform-andproper manner. If the tee is inserted into theturf ina somewhat inclined position, it may still support the-golf ball while'nevere theless interfering with proper engagement of the club head with the ball. It is,- of course, also important that the tees should be constructed of material sufficiently tough to withstand a blow-from the club, sufficiently visible to be readilyfound, and yet unlikeiy to damage the blades of a lawn mower when not found.

It is accordingly a principal object of inyention to P ide a olf t me in e abo e ui in a novel manner, and mom? particularly a tee which may quickly be inserted in an'absolutely vertical direction sothat the ball supported thereby wiliaiways be ideally Pla d ith? likelihood of n e f ence of he teew t enga em nt at the club a with he bell Other objects of the invention will appearastherde- I scription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical section through a tee embodying the principals of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar section through the head of another tee in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the tee of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to said drawing, my new tee may comprise a tapered stem or spike portion 1 terminating in a point 2 and flaring at its upper end 3 to provide an inner cavity 4 in the head portion. Such stem may be composed of transparent plastic material not readily breakable and containing a fluorescent die to enable it to be more readily discovered in the grass. Polystyrene plastic and cellulose acetate butyrate are suitable well-known commercially available plastics for my purpose. The head or cup proper 5 of my new tee is adapted to fit in the upper portion of cavity 4 defined by the flaring upper portion 3 of stem 1 and to be joined thereto by a suitable adhesive, solvent, or preferably by heat-sealing when thermoplastic materials are utilized The upper surface of such head 5 is cupped or dished at 6 to provide the usual receptacle for the golf ball. In

insertion in the ground. A very small amount of a commercially available wetting agent such as sodium green acid sulphonate, sodium or potassium lauryl sulphate, and ethylene oxide condensation products with phenols, alcohols, and carboxylic acids will preferably be added to the water to ensure rapid movement of the bubble B when the tee is tilted.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, a capsule 9, ordinarily of thin walled plastic, will be" largely filled with water but with an air bubble B left therein, and such capsule may be inserted in cavity 4. and retained by closely fitting cap or head 10 adhered or welded to the flaring upper portion of the tee stern. As shown, the inner surface of the head 10 may be con-. vex' and should engage capsule 9 to assist in holding such capsule in properly centered position.

The manner of use of my new tee will be obvious from the foregoing. The'gol fer will insert the same in the turf in the usual manner but taking care that the bubble B is properly centered as viewed through the transparent cupor head portion 5. He may then be assured that the golf ball is precisely properly supported without dan-v get of interfering with engagement of the club head with the ball.

It is preferred that the entire tee be of resilient syn thetic plastic (e. g. polyethylene) but obviously the stem portion may be of wood or'aluminum, if desired. The head must be sufliciently transparent that the liquid therein is readily visible when viewed from the top and capsule 9 must also be transparent. The additional air space in the Fig. 2 form is sufiicient to ensure that the tee will float if inadvertently knocked into a water hazard. The bubble in the head should preferably be of smaller diameter than the window in the top of the head of the Fig. 1 form for more accurate locating. Crosshairs may be scribed in the top of such head but are not necessary.

The liquid employed may desirably becolored to contrast with the plastic and better to outline the bubble. If the Fig. 2 form is employed without capsule 9, the convex inner surface of the upper head portion will cause the bubble in the cavity to form a ring when the tee is held vertically and such ring will break when the tee is tilted. Despite the attractive appearance and improved utility of my new tee, it is inexpensive of manufacture and adapted to production in large quantity. When capsule 9 is employed, it will preferably be globular in form.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A golf tee comprising a fluorescent plastic tapering stem having a hollow outwardly flaring head portion, a transparent plastic head joined and sealed to said flaring head portion of said stem and closing off the hollow cavity therein, said head being concave in its upper outer surface to receive and support a golf ball thereon and also concave in its inner surface defining the upper wall of such cavity, colored water contained in such cavity just insufficient to fill the same and therefore leaving an air bubble adapted naturally to position itself centrally of said head when said stem is held in vertical position for insertion in the ground, and a small amount of a wetting agent dissolved in said-water to facilitate rapid change in the position of such bubble as said stern and headare tilted.

2. A golf tee'comprising a plastic stem having a relatively wide upper portion with a hollow in the upper surface thereof, atransparent plastic head joined and sealed to said upper portion of said stern and closing off the hollow cavity therein, said head being formed with a hollow in its upper outer surface to support a golf ball thereon, and liquid in such hollow cavity just insufiicient to fill the same and therefore leaving an air bubble therein adapted to indicate by its position as viewed through said transparent head when the tee is held in exact vertical position.

3. A plastic golf tee having a stem portion and a wider head portion formed to support a golf ball thereon, characterized by the provision of a hollow cavity within said head and liquid therein just insuflicient to fill the same and therefore leaving an air bubble adapted to indicate by its position when the tee is held in exact vertical position, the top of said head being transparent to permit such liquid and bubble to be thus visible.

4. A golf tee having a stem portion and a wider head portion formed to support a golf ball thereon, characterized by the provision of a hollow cavity within said head and liquid therein just insufficient to fill the same and therefore leaving an air bubble adapted to indicate by its position when the tee is held in exact vertical p sition, the top of said head being transparent to permit such liquid and bubble to be thus visible.

. 5. A golf tee comprising a fluorescent plastic tapering stern having a hollow outwardly flaring head portion, a transparent plastic head joined and sealed to said flaring head portion of said stern and closing off the hollow cavity therein, said head being concave in its upper outer surface to receive and support a golf ball thereon, a transparent globular plastic capsule fitted tightly centrally within such cavity, colored water contained in said capsule just insufficient to fill the same and therefore leaving an air bubble adapted naturally to position itselfcenp I when said stem is held in vertical position for insertion in the ground, and a small amount of a wetting agent dissolved in said water to facilitate trally of said head rapid change in the position of such bubble as said stem and head are tilted.

6. A golf tee comprising a plastic stern having a relatively wide upper portion with a hollow in the upper surface thereof, a transparent plastic head joined and sealed to said upper portion of said stem and closing ofi the hollow cavity therein, said head being formed with a hollow in its upper outer surface to support a golf ball thereon, a transparent capsulefitted tightly within such cavity, and liquid in said capsule just insufficient to fill the same and therefore-leaving-"an air bubble therein adapted to indicate by its position as viewed through said transparent head when the tee is held in exact vertical position.

7. A golf tee having a stem portionand a wider head portion formed to support a golf ball thereon, characterized by the provision ,of a transparent capsule enclosed withinsaid head and liquid therein just insufiicient to fill thesame andtherefore leaving an air bubble adapted to indicate by its; position when the teeis held in exact vertical position, the top of said head being transparent to permit such liquid and bubble to be thus visible.

8. A golf tee comprisinga colored plastic stem having a relatively wide upper portion with a hollow in the upper surface thereof, ,a transparent plastic head joined and sealed .to said upper portion'of said stem and closing off the hollow cavity. therein, said head being formed with a hollow in its upper outer surface to support a golf ball thereomand liquid in such hollow cavity just insuificient to. fil1 the-same and therefore leaving an air bubble therein adapted to indicate by, its position as viewed through said transparent head; when the tee is held in exact vertical position, -suchliquid being of a color contrasting the color of said stern.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

